Aerial bicycle-track.



otherwise fastened,

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD D. BURCHILL,' 0F TAMPA, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR 0F FIFTYONE-HUNDREDTHS TO WILLIAM A. VARNEDOE. OFTAMPA, FLORIDA.

AERIAL BICYCLE-TRACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4, 1916.

Application filed March 28, 1916. Serial No. 87,247.

- T 0 all whom itjnoy concern: 7 Be it known that I, RICHARD D. BURoHiL,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Tampa, in the county ofHillsborough and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful AerialBicycle-Track, of which the following is" a specification.

The present invention is an aerial bicycle track, and aims to provide anovel and improved structure of that character, which can be used as arace trackfor bicycles, or

which can be used as a t-rackto enable cychsts to travel fromplace toplace con-- 'the' details of construction hereinafter described andclaimed, it belng -understoodthat changes in the precise embodiment ofthe invention herein disclosed can be made withinthe scope of what'isclaimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in. the accompanying drawing, whereinFigure 1 is a fragmental longitudinal section of the track taken on theline 11 of Fig. 2. Fig. '2 is a cross section taken onthe line 2 '2 ofFig. 1.

The present track is mounted upon poles 1 disposed at suitable intervalsalong; the

course of the track and constructed ofwood,

metal, or other suitable material. 'ooden or other suitable cross beamsor bars 2 are bolted or otherwise secured between their ends to thepoles. l'adjacent the upper ends thereof, and the ends of saidbeanis 3are connected by inclined braces or tie rods; 3 z

with the upper ends of the poles. the upper adjacent ends of said rods 3being, bolted or as'at i, to the poles. At the opposite sides of thepoles 1 there are pairs of wooden or equivalent rails 5 running thelength of the track. and said rails 5 are suspended from the beams 2 byhanger rods 6. These hanger rods 6 diverge upwardly, and the outer onesare engaged with the lower ends-of the brace rods 3, the

ends of the rods 6 being engaged throughthe rails 5 and beams 2, andbeing anchored thereto in any suitable'iuanner. Y Crossties 7 of wood orother material are secured upon the rails 5 at suitable intervals, andsome of these tles 7. are attac'hedto the poles-1 be .tween their cnds.and are also engaged with the hanger rods 6. 1

The foregolng parts provide a substantial over-head frame orsuperstructure. which maybe at a suitable height above the j ground.Secured upon the ties '4 between the respective sets of hanger rods 6,f-

longitudinal track plates 8, which arekprovided between their edges withgrooves-9 in which'the wheels of the bio-voles are adapted to run, toguide-the wheels properly along the track. The grooves '9 are suf;

ficiently wide to permit thebici'cles to'bo steered. sothatthe-riderscanmaintaintheir equilibrium, but the grooves 9. need notbe much wider than the tires;

Longitudinal wires or rods 10. arranged in vertically spaced relation,are-attacli'ed to 'each set of hanger rods (3 and screons'ior equivalentsheets 11, are secured. to the wires 10 and rods 6. tov provideforaininous or .transparent sldes for'the two t-rackw-avs."

These screens prevent the ridersfrom' fall ing, and act as ajsafe guard.but at not hinder riders. .7

' he track' can be provided at} suitable points with'landings to enablethe riders to 'enter', and leave the track.

, 'The bicycles can travel in the grooves 9 of theonlookersfromobserving the the"trackways in a' convenientmanneix and nodevices are 'en iploved for inaiutainiug the bicycles i i-uprightposition. since this is left to the ski-llo fthe cyclists; I v

The numbers' 'of ,traekways can be varied. since various 1 numbersof-hange'rs can be used by providing beams 2; and ties .Tyof

suitable length. :The track can V be straight; circular; or ofsot'hershapl t The track can be used for the operation-of land a 'pa 1 I motorcycles as well as l') ic vcles, of tires 12 can best'rung above eaclrofthe plates 8 to serve'the otlice of safe guards. It is also possible toeliminate .thef acljacent scree'ns'lO, and to use" opaque screens at theoutside of the traclnto prevent the movements of'the r ders bemgobserved, except at such points Where desired.

1 Having thus {described thev invention,

What s claimed as new 1s:.

1. an aerial b cycle track embodying poles,;beams attached thereto,hangers suspendedii'rom said beams, rails suspended by said hangers,cross ties attached to the rails, 1 0

and a track member secured upon the ties between the hangers.

. 2. A11 aerial 7 bicycle track embodying poles, beams attached thereto,pairs of hangers hung from said beams, and a track plate suspended fromsaid hangers and, disposed 'therebetween, said plate having means forg'niding the Wheels of a bicycle. I

An aerial bicycle track embodying poles, beams attached thereto, hangerssuspended from said beams, longitudinal rails suspended from saidhangers, cross ties secured upon said rails, track plates secured uponthe ties between the hangers, longitudinal. Wires attached t.o;thehangers, and side screens attached to the hangers and Wires.

4;. An aerial bicycle track embodying poles, beams attached thereto,hangers havtheir upper ends engaged. with the track plate secured uponthe ties and provided' with a Wheel guiding groove.

5. An aerial bicycle track embodying poles, beams secured between theirends to the poles, braces connecting the ends of the longitudinal railsat the opposite sides of the poles engaged With the lower ends of thehangers, the hangers diverging upwardly, cross ties secured upon therails, certain of the ties beingsecured to the poles between their ends,longitudinal track plates secured upon the ties and having Wheel guidinggrooves, and side screens attached to the hangers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing .as my own, I'have heretoafiixed mypsignaturein the presence of tvvo Witnesses.

' RICHARD D. BURCHILL.

: Witnesses:

4 D. M. SMITH,

G. DUNCAN.

beams and poles, pairs of hangers at theopposite sides of the poles andhaving their 4o upper ends engaged with the beams, pairs of

